Longital
Encyclopedia
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
suburb, Dlhé diely
Dlhé diely
Dlhé diely is one of the newest residential quarters of Bratislava. It is situated in Karlova Ves on a hill overviewing the Danube, Bratislava and Austria. Major area is filled with paneláks.The territory was previously a park/wood near Karlova Ves proper...
, in which they live.
Members
Lemur Input Device
The Lemur Input Device was a highly-customizable multi-touch device from French company JazzMutant which serves as a controller for musical devices such as synthesizers and mixing consoles as well as for other media applications such as video performances...
, which provides the percussion and other electronic elements.
Salontay studied mathematics and formerly taught computer programming; between 1997 and 1998 he studied guitar at Tri-C College
Cuyahoga Community College
Cuyahoga Community College is a two-year college in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Founded in 1962, Cuyahoga Community College is the oldest, and largest community college in Ohio with a Fall 2009 enrollment of 31,024. * http://www.tri-c.edu/news/Pages/20100823a.aspxIn August of 2010, the college reported...
, Cleveland, but left due to dissatisfaction with the school's curriculum http://www.spectator.sk/articles/view/14608/9/. In the group he plays the guitar, often bowed
Bowed guitar
Bowed guitar is a method of playing a guitar, acoustic or electric, in which the guitarist uses a bow to play the instrument, similar to playing a cello or a viola da gamba. Unlike other bowed instruments, the guitar has a flat bridge, making it difficult to bow individual notes on the middle strings...
, and sings.
Shina studied engineering and worked as a graphic designer. She plays fretless bass and takes most of the vocal responsibilities.
History
Salontay and Shina became a couple in 1997 in Cleveland. In 2000 they formed the band Dlhé Diely with which they released 5 albums on their own label Slnko Records http://www.slnkorecords.sk/. The label soon gained respect in the music community and business, and grew steadily to became probably the largest independent label in Slovakia.The band first came to attention internationally after appearing at the The Big Chill (music festival)
The Big Chill (music festival)
The Big Chill is an annual festival of alternative, dance and chill-out music and comedy, held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle during early August...
in 2005 still as Dlhé diely. In 2006 the duo changed their name to Longital, released the album Voyage, and began to tour extensively in Europe. In 2008 the band released the album Gloria. Longital's US debut was in early 2010 at SXSW Austin.
The band has also played at Pohoda festival Slovakia, the International Guitar festival Clonakilty Ireland, Mediawave Hungary, United Islands of Prague, Colours of Ostrava
Colours of Ostrava
Colours of Ostrava, or simply Colours, is a multi-genre festival, the biggest international music festival in the Czech Republic and one of the biggest music events in the Central Europe, held every summer in the centre of Ostrava, the third biggest city in the Czech Republic.Colours will celebrate...
, Gena Festival Switzerland, and a number of festivals in France : Europavox Vichy, Mimi Marseille, Les Nuits Europeennes Strasbourg, Le printemps de Bourges, Les Oreilles en Pointe Unieux, Electro choc Bourgon, Gare aux Oreilles Coustellet, and Musiques Innovatrices St.Etienne.
In 2007, Longital toured with The Frames. The duo also shared the stage with Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Emiliana Torrini, Moloko, The Ruby Suns, Tujiko Noriko, Lali Puna, Black, Claire Di Terzi, Aaron, Xploding plastix, Medeski-Martin-Wood, Ralph Myerz, The Levelers, Susanne and the Magic Orchestra and Nina Hynes.
Style
The group's website describes their songs as, "drifted by ambient sounds, organic electronics, eastern European beats and a touch of psychedelia" http://www.longital.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=29&lang=en, while on their Myspace site they categorise themselves as, "Alternative/electronica".Longital invite comparisons to Nordic brethren Sigur Ros, playing bowed guitars and singing in a language understood by few outside of their homeland. Before forming Longital, Salontay was schooled jazz musician steeped in the traditional music of Iran and India, Shina was a poet and folk singer. The duo create a sound informed by music from far-flung reaches of the globe but still distinguished by its Eastern European provenance, a touch of technology and experimentation.
Discography
- Dlhé diely. September. (Slnko records, 2001)
- Šinadisk. (Slnko records, 2001)
- Dlhé diely. Tu. (Slnko records, 2002),
- Šina. In Virgo. (Slnko records, 2003)
- Dlhé diely. Sveta diely (Slnko records, 2004)
- Longital. Výprava / Voyage. (Slnko records, 2006)
- Longital. Gloria. (Slnko records, 2008)
- Longital. Long Live (live album). (Slnko records, 2010)
- Longital. Teraz / Now. (Slnko records, 2010)